Stand for an artificial tree or the like

ABSTRACT

A stand arrangement for an artificial tree or the like including a vertically extending coupler having an opening at one end for detachably securing a plurality of leg members together in assembly. The leg members each have a flange portion each extending into the coupler opening, a foot portion resting on a surface such as a floor and an integral portion extending between the flange and foot portions to provide a self-supporting and self-stabilizing tripod arrangement.

United States Patent 1 3,706,435

Tedeschi, Jr. 1 Dec. 19, 1972 [54] STAND FOR AN ARTIFICIAL TREE 0R 1,235,295 7/1917 De Long ..248/l58 THE LIKE 2,826,846 3/1958 Warren 3,244,128 4/1966 'Rogalski et al. ..248/l88.7 X [72] Inventor: Armand E. Tedeschi, Jr., New

York, Primary ExaminerWilliam H. Schultz [73] Assignee: Mr. Christmas Incorporated, New Atmmey Karl mocks k,N. Y [57 ABSTRACT [22] Flled: 1971 A stand arrangement for an artificial tree or the like [21] Appl. N0.: 131,724 including a vertically extending coupler having an opening at one end for detachably securing a plurality of leg members together in assembly. The leg mem- [52] U.S.Cl ..248/48, 2;8/l88.7 bars each have a flange portion each extending into [51] Int. Cl. ..I. ..A4 g33/l2 the coupler opening a foot portion resting on a Sup [58] w 0f Search "248/48, face such as a floor and an integral portion extending 248/1887 between the flange and foot portions to provide a selfsupporting and self-stabilizing, tripod arrangement. [56] References Cited 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,806,600 5/1931 Elderkin ..248/ l 65 PATENTED DEC 19 an ARNAMD E, TEDBCHI JR. KHRL (J flock) ATTORNEY STAND FOR AN ARTIFICIAL TREE OR THE LIKE This invention relates to an improvement in a stand for a tree and more particularly to a detachable stand assembly for artificial trees or the like.

In the field of artificial trees various'forms of stand for mounting trees so as to stand erect for display have been devised. Among the types used heretofore, some require nuts and bolts to assemble and hence tools and considerable time and effort on the part of the user. Such stands also require considerable expense and parts and labor on the part of the manufacturer. For example, the manufacturer must drill bolt holes in such stands and furnish nuts and bolts therefor, the expense of which is ultimately passed on to the consumer.

An object of this invention is to provide a detachable stand for an artificial tree or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stand for a tree or the like which is easy to assemble and disassemble.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a detachable stand for artificial trees or the like having a minimum of parts.

A further object of this invention is to provide a detachable stand for artificial trees or the like requiring a minimum of labor in the manufacture thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a detachable stand for artificial trees which may neatly and compactly store when out of use.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the accompanying description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the stand assembly according to my invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the assembly taken along line 2 '2-of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of one of the leg members forming a part of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the leg member taken along line 4 4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the coupler members nestably stacked for storage.

With reference to the drawings, the tree stand 1 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises coupler member 2 and three leg members 3. The coupler 2 has an opening 4 defined by a wall 5 at the lower end thereof for telescopically receiving portions of the leg members 3 and thereby detachably securing the leg members 3 together. The coupler 2, preferably, is in the form of a hollow tubular member. However, it may be a solid rod member with a hole formed in the lower end thereof. The coupler 2 further may include at its upper end a reduced diameter portion 2' for insertion into an opening of an artificial tree trunk which is not shown.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5, it is seen that each leg member 3 has at one end a flange portion 6, a relatively long intermediate portion 7, and a foot portion 8 at the opposite end thereof. The flange portion 6 extends from the intermediate portion 7 at a generally obtuse angle thereto and as may be seen in FIG. 3, is bent in the form of the letter V with outer sides 9 and distal edges 10. The intermediate portions 7 of the leg member 3, is seen in FIG. 4 to be of such configuration in cross section as to impart strength and stability thereto. Preferably the strength imparting section is arcuate although it may be of other convex shapes. The

and leg intermediate portion 7 is of sufficient length so as to provide stability to the assembly. The foot portion 8 includes a sole portion 11 for resting on a floor or similar surface. The sole portion 11 lies substantially in a plane which is oblique with respectto the longitudinal axis of the intermediate portion 7 of the leg member 3.

To assemble the stand 1 each of the-flange portions 6 of the three legs 3 are inserted into the opening 4 of the coupler 2 with the outer sides 9 of the flangeportion 6 of each leg member 3 lying back-to-back-against adjacent outer sides 9 of each of the flange portions 6 of the other two leg members 3 as seen in FIG. 2. The distal edges 10 of the flange portions 6 lie generally in a path which is substantially circumscribed by the inner wall 5 defining the opening 4 in the coupler 2.

As assembled the coupler 2 extends in a generally vertical direction to support a tree or the like and telescopically secures in its opening 4 the flange portions 6 of the leg members 3 as described above. When the stand 1 is assembled and is ready for use, itis placed on the floor, a platform, or the like with the sole portions 11 resting thereon for supporting an artificial tree. When an artificial tree is supported on the coupler 2 its vertical load is distributed along the leg members 3 and ultimately tends to spread the foot portions 8 apart, whereby stability of the arrangement is enhanced. To disassemble the stand 1 it is only necessary to withdraw the flange 6 of the leg member 3 from the opening 4 of the coupler 2. With the various parts of the stand 1 disassembled the coupler 2 and the leg members 3 may be nestably stacked as shown in FIG. 5. The stacked members 2 and 3 may then be inserted in a relatively narrow steep container with the flanges 6 projecting out of the container or secured by rubber bands and conviently stored on a shelf or in any corner.

Although the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A stand for supporting an artificial tree or the like comprising coupler means having an opening at one end thereof and leg means having a portion extending into said opening and detachably secured thereby, said leg means including at least three identical members each having a relatively long intermediate portion with a flanged extension at an end thereof forming the portion of said leg means detachable secured in said opening of said coupler means, said intermediate portion having in cross-section a convex form imparting strength thereto and further upon which associated parts may be nestably. stacked for neat and compact storage, said flanged extension further being at a generally obtuse angle to said intermediate portion and also being V-shaped in cross-section with the tips of the V remote from the vertex thereof lying in a path which is substantially circumscribed by the inner wall defining the opening of said coupler means, said three identical leg members thus forming a tripod arrangement with the outer sides of each V-shaped flanged extension resting against an outer side of each of the other V- shaped flanged extensions and with the vertices of said V-shaped extensions abutting each other.

l060ll 0703 2. The stand of claim 1 in which each of said leg members includes a foot portion extending from the the intermediate portion from which it extends.

4. The stand of claim 3 in which the form imparting strength to said intermediate portion and upon which associated parts may be nestably stacked for neat and compact storage comprises an elongated arcuate sec- V tlon.

l060ll 0704 

1. A stand for supporting an artificial tree or the like comprising coupler means having an opening at one end thereof and leg means having a portion extending into said opening and detachably secured thereby, said leg means including at least three identical members each having a relatively long intermediate portion with a flanged extension at an end thereof forming the portion of said leg means detachable secured in said opening of said coupler means, said intermediate portion having in cross-section a convex form imparting strength thereto and further upon which associated parts may be nestably stacked for neat and compact storage, said flanged extension further being at a generally obtuse angle to said intermediate portion and also being V-shaped in cross-section with the tips of the V remote from the vertex thereof lying in a path which is substantially circumscribed by the inner wall defining the opening of said coupler means, said three identical leg members thus forming a tripod arrangement with the outer sides of each V-shaped flanged extension resting against an outer side of each of the other Vshaped flanged extensions and with the vertices of said V-shaped extensions abutting each other.
 2. The stand of claim 1 in which each of said leg members includes a foot portion extending from the said intermediAte portion at the end opposite from the flange extension for resting on a surface such as a floor.
 3. The stand of claim 2 in which the underside of said foot portion includes a sole portion lying substantially in a plane which is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the intermediate portion from which it extends.
 4. The stand of claim 3 in which the form imparting strength to said intermediate portion and upon which associated parts may be nestably stacked for neat and compact storage comprises an elongated arcuate section. 